Rush, Heart, Donna Summer, Randy Newman, blues legend Albert King, and rappers Public Enemy are the 2013 inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea announced the inductees yesterday (December 11th) at L.A.'s Nokia Theater, which is where where the induction ceremony will be held on April 18th. A truncated version of the evening's events will air on HBO on May 18th. Producer/arranger and L.A. music scene powerhouse Lou Adler along with Quincy Jones will receive the prestigious Ahmet Ertegun Award.

Geddy Lee told Rolling Stone that he's happy that the fans that have wanted the honor for Rush have finally achieved their goal: "It's a terrific honor and we'll show up smiling. It made my mom happy, so that's worth it. . . It was a cause they championed. I'm very relieved for them and we share this honor with them, for sure."

Heart, like Rush, had been passed over year after year. Singer Ann Wilson explained how a band like Heart can be easily be overlooked: "Some people have an idea of what the shape of rock n' roll is supposed to look like. We're not really it. Personally, that's why I think it's taken quite a while . . . We're always traveling and out there doing it. It can start to feel like you're a tree falling in the forest, but nobody notices. So this kind of acknowledgment is really sweet."

Randy Newman added: "I thought maybe I'd have to die before they let me in. I'm really glad it happened when I was still around to see it . . . They're always a little doctrinaire about what's rock n' roll and what isn't rock n' roll. It's nice they opened up a little to let me in."

Among the band's that were shortlisted but failed to snag enough votes for induction were Deep Purple, Procol Harum, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, the Marvelettes, the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, the Meters, Chic, Kraftwerk, and N.W.A.

Geddy Lee told us that having a legion of fans following you is still a pretty heady experience: "It's a tremendous compliment to be told that you've inspired someone or influenced someone musically, or in any aspect of life -- and beyond that, y'know, you really don't know what to say. Y'know, it's a nice thing, and it makes you feel like whatever you're doing has a little more validity, I guess."

Nancy Wilson told us that Heart has always opted on being an active creative force -- rather than playing it safe by just being a touring nostalgia act: "Y'know you're really driven -- I think if you're an artistic soul, then you're driven to do your art; And if you only care money, then you're not. Then you're driven to only tour and do the old hits forever, y'know? I think we're pretty artistic about it. We're really happy to still be able to enjoy going out and playing live as well as be creative and be writers."